Acute Effects of kinesiotaping on Pain and Muscle Strength in Individuals with Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear

Abstract

Objective Limited data are available regarding the effects of application of kinesiology tape (KT) on pain and muscular strength in individuals with complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the short-term effects of KT on knee pain and maximal strength.

Materials and Methods 25 subjects were divided into two groups: a) the control group participants (n=11) were without ACL-tear; and b) the experimental group participants (n=14) were with ACL-tear. Participants in the experimental group were tested under two conditions: with and without KT. Pain was recorded using the visual analog scale, isometric and concentric maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs) were measured using dynamometry, and limb symmetry index was calculated.

Results Application of KT causes reduction in pain by 50 % (p<0.05), increases knee flexors and knee extensors isometric MVC and knee extensor concentric MVC at 60°/s angular velocity (p<0.05), and improves limb symmetry (p<0.05), but deficit of MVC as compared to healthy controls is maintained (p<0.05).

Conclusions Short-term KT can be an effective tool for decreasing ACL-tear associated pain and muscle weakness.

Zusammenfassung

Fragestellung Es liegen begrenzte Daten zu den Auswirkungen der Anwendung von kinesiologischem Tape (KT) auf Schmerzen und Muskelkraft bei Personen mit vollständigem Riss des vorderen Kreuzbands (ACL) vor. Daher zielten wir darauf ab, die kurzfristigen Auswirkungen von KT auf Knieschmerzen und Maximalkraft zu bewerten.

Material und Methoden 25 Probanden wurden in zwei Gruppen eingeteilt: a) die Teilnehmer der Kontrollgruppe (n=11) waren ohne Kreuzbandriss; und b) die Versuchsgruppenteilnehmer (n=14) hatten einen Kreuzbandriss. Die Teilnehmer der experimentellen Gruppe wurden unter zwei Bedingungen getestet: mit und ohne KT. Der Schmerz wurde mit der visuellen Analogskala aufgezeichnet, die isometrischen und konzentrischen maximalen willkürlichen Kontraktionen (MVCs) wurden mit Dynamometrie gemessen und der Gliedmaßensymmetrieindex wurde berechnet.

Ergebnisse Die Anwendung von KT bewirkt eine Schmerzlinderung um 50 % (p<0,05), erhöht die isometrische MVC der Kniebeuger und Kniestrecker und die konzentrische MVC der Kniestrecker bei einer Winkelgeschwindigkeit von 60°/s (p<0,05) und verbessert die Gliedmaßensymmetrie (p<0,05). 0,05), aber das MVC-Defizit im Vergleich zu gesunden Kontrollen bleibt erhalten (p<0,05).

Schlussfolgerung Kurzzeitige KT kann ein wirksames Mittel zur Linderung von Schmerzen und Muskelschwäche sein, die mit einem Kreuzbandriss einhergehen.

Key words

isokinetic strength testing - lower extremity injuries - muscular function - non-surgical treatment - pain - physiotherapy

Schlüsselwörter

isokinetische Kraftmessungen - Verletzungen der unteren Extremität - Muskelfunktion - konservative Behandlung - Schmerz - Physiotherapie

Publication History

Received: 30 December 2022

Accepted: 21 March 2023

Article published online:
28 April 2023

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